Mancey: Nature, Heritage and Paths to Roche d’Aujoux

Mancey offers a variety of reasons to visit: nature, architectural history, archaeology and winegrowing. Those interested in landscapes will find plenty to explore, as will travelers looking to discover Romanesque architecture or the history of the hamlets. Together, the sites and paths offer different perspectives on Mancey.

Nature and views at Roche d’Aujoux

The Chêne du Tremblay, also known as the Gros Chêne de Mancey, is about 300 years old. Its circumference is more than 4.3 meters. Roche d’Aujoux, on the heights of Mancey, offers a different perspective: from there, the panorama stretches across the Saône and Grosne valleys. The tree and the rocky site show two different sides of the local landscape—a single ancient tree and a sweeping view across the countryside.

Chapel, château and village history

In Dulphey, the municipal Chapelle de Dulphey is near the château park and the war memorial. The chapel is circular and built in the Romanesque style. The Château de Dulphey is a fortified house dating from the 16th century in Mancey, near Tournus in Burgundy. If you plan to visit the château, check current visitor information in advance. You will also come across old architectural landmarks in the hamlets; other local features include numerous cadoles, traditional stone shelters. The architectural heritage thus ranges from a single building to examples scattered throughout the hamlets.

The Lavoir de Montat

The Lavoir de Montat is an open-air washhouse dating from the 19th century. It is fed directly by the Montat spring. Access is via a footpath through municipal woodland, below a bend in the road to Col des Chèvres. It is advisable to check current trail conditions before setting out. The building, spring and woodland path give the site a different character from the chapel or the stone cadoles.

Archaeological traces at Roche d’Aujoux

Roche d’Aujoux is also significant for the study of rural religious practices. It is now considered an important site in Burgundy for studying the transition from paganism to Christianity. Archaeological remains have been dated to between the late 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Interpretations of these finds may be refined through future research. Landscape and history are closely intertwined here: the viewpoint offers views across the valleys, while the archaeological traces provide insight into earlier religious practices.

Walking trail and mountain biking route

The walking trail to the Belvédère de la Roche d’Aujoux starts and ends in Mancey and is 9.1 kilometers long. The route offers views of the Grosne Valley and the Côte chalonnaise. Access to the viewpoint is via the Chemin de Moines GR76, a high-level trail between Sennecey and Cluny. The mountain biking route “Les crêtes boisées du Mâconnais” offers another option: on its southern return leg, it passes through Mancey and continues to Tournus. The two routes therefore differ in both mode of travel and itinerary. Check trail conditions before setting out on the walking route.

Winegrowing as part of local history

The village’s winegrowing is entirely focused on wines with a controlled or protected designation of origin. The former designation AOC was recently renamed AOP. The founding of the Mancey winegrowers’ cooperative in 1929 is also part of the local winegrowing history. These facts give wine its own place alongside the landscape and heritage, without requiring a visit to any particular winery.

Discover more destinations: Charmes, Ciry-Le-Noble, Chissey-En-Morvan, Saint-Vallerin, Sornay, Saint-Germain-Du-Bois, Bruailles, Saint-Symphorien-De-Marmagne.

Return to the main travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.